U.S. patent application number 10/386365 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-04 for sight glass and low temperature method of manufacturing the same.
Invention is credited to Kolkman, Arjan, Paterek, Dieter, Quadir, Tariq, Schuckmann, Scott.
Application Number | 20030223139 10/386365 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32987315 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030223139 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Paterek, Dieter ; et
al. |
December 4, 2003 |
Sight glass and low temperature method of manufacturing the
same
Abstract
An improved lower cost sight glass and a method for producing
the same is disclosed, whereby the sight glass is made by placing a
transparent component in secure s contact with a metallic ring. The
contact may optionally be effectuated by temporarily altering the
relative dimensions of the metallic ring and the transparent
component, placing the transparent component into the inner space
of the metallic ring, and then reversing the altered relative
dimensions of the metallic ring and the transparent component. A
hermetic seal is formed between the transparent component and the
metallic ring is by the application of an inorganic sealing
compound.
Inventors: |
Paterek, Dieter;
(Vroomshoop, NL) ; Quadir, Tariq; (Westchester,
OH) ; Kolkman, Arjan; (Den Ham, NL) ;
Schuckmann, Scott; (Maineville, OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
HOWREY SIMON ARNOLD & WHITE LLP
750 BERING DRIVE
HOUSTON
TX
77057
US
|
Family ID: |
32987315 |
Appl. No.: |
10/386365 |
Filed: |
March 11, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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10386365 |
Mar 11, 2003 |
|
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|
09594862 |
Jun 15, 2000 |
|
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60139298 |
Jun 15, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
359/894 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C03C 27/042 20130101;
G02B 7/007 20130101; C03C 27/044 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
359/894 |
International
Class: |
G02B 005/00; G02B
007/00; G02B 027/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A sight glass apparatus comprising: a transparent component; a
ring having an inner space receptive of the transparent component,
wherein the transparent component is secured within the ring; and
an inorganic sealing compound applied to an interface between the
transparent component and the ring.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the inorganic sealing compound
comprises fusible low temperature melting glass.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the ring comprises at least one
metal selected from the group consisting of ferrous alloys and
aluminum.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the low temperature melting
glass is in fused contact with both the ring and the transparent
component.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transparent component
comprises a crystalline material.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the transparent component is
secured within the ring by the low temperature melting glass.
7. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the transparent component
comprises a material exhibiting a glass transition temperature, and
wherein low temperature melting glass exhibits a glass softening
temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the
transparent component.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the transparent component
comprises borosilicate or soda lime silicate.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the low temperature melting
glass exhibits a glass softening temperature at least about 25
degrees C. lower than the glass transition temperature of the
transparent component.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the low temperature melting
glass exhibits a glass softening temperature at least about 50
degrees C. lower than the glass transition temperature of the
transparent component.
11. The apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a high temperature
cement securing the transparent component within the ring, the low
temperature melting glass further being in fused contact with the
high temperature cement.
12. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the transparent component is
secured within the ring by the low temperature melting glass.
13. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the transparent component is
secured in radial compression within the ring.
14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the sealing compound is in
fused contact with both the ring and the transparent component.
15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ring further comprises a
lip adapted to abut an outer surface of at least a portion of the
transparent component, the lip arranged to limit the insertion
distance of the transparent component into the ring.
16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising a beveled surface
forming a region to accommodate the application of the low
temperature melting glass.
17. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein the ring exhibits a greater
coefficient of thermal expansion than the transparent
component.
18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the ring is a metallic
ring.
19. The apparatus of claim 17 wherein the ring comprises
single-piece construction.
20. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the transparent component is
circular, rectangular, elliptical, or polygonal.
21. A sight glass comprising: a means for sensing conditions on one
side of the sight glass from the vantage point of the opposite side
of the sight glass; a means for securing the sensing means, the
securing means securing the sensing means within the securing
means, and a means for sealing an interface between the securing
means and the sensing means.
22. The sight glass of claim 21 wherein the sensing means comprises
a material exhibiting a glass transition temperature, and wherein
sealing means exhibits a glass softening temperature lower than the
glass transition temperature of the sensing means.
23. The slight glass of claim 21 wherein the sensing means is
secured in compression within the securing means when the sight
glass is at ambient temperatures.
24. The sight glass of claim 23 wherein the securing means further
comprises a lip means adapted to abut an outer surface of at least
a portion of the sensing means.
25. The sight glass of claim 23, further comprising a beveled
surface forming a region to accommodate the application of the
sealing means.
26. A method of making a sight glass comprising the steps of:
providing a transparent component and a ring; the ring having an
inner space, placing the transparent component inside the inner
space of the ring; applying an inorganic sealing compound around
the interface between the transparent component and the ring;
treating the inorganic sealing compound to at least partially
secure the transparent component to the ring; further treating the
inorganic sealing compound to seal the transparent component to the
ring so as to form a hermetic seal between the transparent
component and the ring.
27. The method of claim 26 wherein the inorganic sealing compound
comprises fusible low temperature melting glass.
28. The method of claim 26 wherein the step of treating the
inorganic sealing compound to at least partially secure the
transparent component to the ring comprises sintering low
temperature melting glass.
29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of further treating the
inorganic sealing compound to seal the transparent component to the
ring comprises fusing the low temperature melting glass to both the
transparent component and the ring.
30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of further treating
the inorganic sealing compound is performed in a reducing
atmosphere.
31. The method of claim 27 wherein the transparent component is
secured within the ring by the low temperature melting glass.
32. The method of claim 29 wherein the transparent component
comprises a crystalline material.
33. The method of claim 31 wherein the transparent component
comprises a material exhibiting a glass transition temperature, and
wherein low temperature melting glass exhibits a glass softening
temperature lower than the glass transition temperature of the
transparent component.
34. The method of claim 33 wherein the transparent component
comprises borosilicate or soda lime silicate.
35. The method of claim 33 wherein the low temperature melting
glass exhibits a glass softening temperature at least about 25
degrees C. lower than the glass transition temperature of the
transparent component.
36. The method of claim 33 wherein the low temperature melting
glass exhibits a glass softening temperature at least about 50
degrees C. lower than the glass transition temperature of the
transparent component.
37. The method of claim 29 further comprising the steps of
temporarily altering the relative dimensions of the ring and the
transparent compound prior to placing the transparent component
inside the inner space of the ring, and reversing the altered
relative dimensions of the ring and transparent component after
placing the transparent component inside the inner space of the
ring; the transparent component and the inner space of the ring
being sized such that at ambient conditions, the ring holds the
transparent component secured in a state of radial compression
within the inner space of the ring.
38. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of temporarily altering
the relative dimensions of the ring and transparent component
comprises heating the ring.
39. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of temporarily altering
the relative dimensions of the ring and transparent component
comprises cooling the transparent component.
40. The method of claim 37 wherein the step of temporarily altering
the relative dimensions of the ring and transparent component
comprises heating both the ring and the transparent component.
41. The method of claim 37 wherein the ring comprises a lip adapted
to abut an outer surface of at least a portion of the transparent
component, the lip arranged to limit the insertion distance of the
transparent component into the ring.
42. The method of claim 37 wherein the ring comprises beveled
surface forming a region to accommodate the application of the low
temperature melting glass.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of copending U.S. application
Ser. No. 09/594,862, which was filed on Jun. 15, 2000, the entire
disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, which
claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/139,298
filed Jun. 15, 1999.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to sight glasses. More specifically,
this invention relates to hermetically sealed sight glasses and to
the relatively low-temperature methods that may be used to
manufacture such sight glasses.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] There is perceived a need in industry today for a person or
sensing device to be able to view the interior of many types of
process vessels or containers used in industry. Often, such vessels
will contain a corrosive or otherwise hazardous material, and/or
its contents will be at elevated pressures and/or temperatures, so
that the person wishing to look inside the vessel cannot safely
open the vessel for direct viewing.
[0004] Sight glasses are commonly used to solve this problem, a
sight glass typically comprising a transparent (or at least
translucent) component, capable of allowing the viewer to sense the
inside of the vessel, and a housing assembly, capable of holding
the transparent component in place and attaching to a vessel whose
interior it is wished to be viewed. Several varieties of sight
glasses are available, each having its own set of limitations. For
high pressure applications requiring a sight glass that is
hermetically sealed, the prior art sight glasses tend to be made
using a variety of methods.
[0005] One common method of sight glass manufacture is known as the
fusion method. The fusion method includes a transparent component,
typically a glass or similar fusible material, formed in the shape
of a circular disc, and a metallic ring. The metallic ring is part
of the housing assembly and is formed such that the transparent
component is fused to the interior diameter of the metallic ring.
An example of a sight glass constructed according to a fusion
method is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,472,223 to Bowsky. In order
to bond the transparent component to the metallic ring, the two
components are heated to relatively high temperatures,
traditionally about 800 to 1100 degrees Celsius, to fuse the glass
to the metal. At these elevated temperatures, the transparent
material becomes soft and flows into direct contact with the
metallic material. In the resultant sight glass, the transparent
component is bonded both chemically and physically to the metallic
ring. Such sight glasses are typically pressure resistant and
durable, but they are relatively expensive to manufacture, due to
the costs associated with the equipment necessary for achieving the
required elevated temperatures. Moreover, the required relatively
high temperatures also make it difficult to use certain metallic
ring materials, for example brass, which have lower melting point
temperatures and/or have the tendency to undergo relatively rapid
oxidation at high temperatures.
[0006] Under a second known method of sight glass construction, the
transparent component is not fused to the metallic ring, but rather
is mechanically held in place by one or more gasketing materials.
An example of such a sight glass is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No.
4,169,309 to Meginnis. It is well known that such gasketing
materials can be configured, along with the transparent component
and the other elements of the housing assembly, in such a way that
the gasketing material is placed in compression between a surface
of the transparent component and a surface of at least one element
of the housing assembly. Such configurations can form a sight glass
that is semi-hermetic (less than 1.times.10.sup.-5 atms/cc sec)
sealed. However, sight glasses made using gasketing materials can
be expensive, due to the multiplicity of parts and the labor
required for their assembly being mostly of polymeric nature.
Moreover, such sight glasses cannot be used in situations where the
gasketing materials are incompatible with the temperatures,
pressures, and/or corrosive conditions expected inside the process
vessel whose interior it is wished to be viewed.
[0007] Thus it is an object of this invention to provide a simple,
cost-effective method of manufacturing a hermetically-sealed sight
glass that avoids the disadvantages of the prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
[0008] The following figures form part of the present specification
and are included to further demonstrate certain aspects of the
present invention. The invention may be better understood by
reference to these drawings in combination with the detailed
description of specific embodiments presented herein.
[0009] FIG. 1 shows a cross-sectional view of a first sight glass
made according to certain features of the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 shows a cross-sectional view of a second sight glass
made according to certain features of the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of a third sight glass
made according to certain features of the present invention.
[0012] FIG. 4 shows a cross-sectional view of a fourth sight glass
made according to certain features of the present invention.
[0013] FIG. 5 shows a side view of the fourth sight glass made
according to certain features of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0014] Turning now to the Figures, and in particular FIG. 1, a
cross-sectional view of a sight glass made according to certain
features of the present invention is shown. The illustrated sight
glass includes a metallic ring 1 securely holding a transparent
component 2 in compression, a hermetic seal being assured along the
interface between the metallic ring 1 and the transparent component
2 by means of a sealing compound 9. (The region 14 is shown without
sealing compound 9 for clarity.)
[0015] According to the present invention, the metallic ring 1 may
be comprised of any suitable metal, metal alloy, metalloid, or
similar material. Suitable metals include stainless steels,
cold-rolled steels (CRS), and other ferrous alloys (which may or
may not be nickel-plated), as well as aluminum. It will be
understood that the term "metallic ring" includes any suitably
shaped material having an inner space capable of receiving and
holding a transparent component, and having peripheral surfaces 13
capable of being joined to other elements of a sight glass housing
assembly (not shown). The outer surfaces of the metallic ring may
form a circular disc, a rectangular plate, or any other shape
suitable for being joined to other elements of a sight glass
housing assembly.
[0016] According to one embodiment of the present invention, the
transparent component 2 may be any fusible or non-fusible glass,
crystalline material, or ceramic material single crystal and
poly-crystal, such materials being well known in the art. For
example, borosilicates, soda lime silicates and sapphire
(crystalline) are useful materials from which transparent component
2 may be made. The shape of the transparent component 2 may be a
circular disc as shown in the figures, but it is not so limited.
Transparent component 2 may also be a rectangular plate, a
hexagonal plate, or any other suitable shape. Inner space 17 of
metallic ring 1 is shaped to receive transparent component 2.
[0017] In one preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, a sight glass
made according to the present invention is placed in service such
that an inner environment 10 is separated by the sight glass from
an outer environment 11. Inner environment 10 contains the
conditions that are desired to be viewed. Metallic ring 1 includes
a lip piece 3 having a surface 12 abutting a marginal portion 4 of
the transparent component 2. Lip piece 3 limits the insertion of
transparent component 2 into metallic ring 1. In addition, when
inner environment 10 is of a higher pressure than outer environment
11, transparent component 2 is forced against lip piece surface 12,
thus facilitating an enhanced seal and greater support of
transparent component 2.
[0018] As will be described in greater detail, an inner surface 6
of metallic ring 1 may be in compressive contact with an outer
surface 5 of transparent component 2 as shown in the FIG. 1-3. Such
compressive contact is sufficient to hold the transparent component
securely in place. However, the compressive contact alone may not
be sufficient to form a hermetic seal along this compressive
interface. Thus, it is advantageous to use an inorganic sealing
compound 9 along region 16 where the compressive interface between
metallic ring 1 and transparent component 2 is exposed to the inner
environment 10.
[0019] Suitable inorganic sealing compounds include fusible low
temperature melting glasses. Preferably, the glass softening
temperature of the melting glass is at least 25 degrees C. lower
than any glass transition temperature of the transparent component.
More preferably, the glass softening temperature of the melting
glass is at least about 50 degrees C. lower than any glass
transition temperature of the transparent component. Examples of
low temperature melting glasses include "2998" VEG from Ferro
Corporation, Corning "9013" (alkali barium), and Fusite T-glass
435. The low temperature melting glass may be employed in the form
of a preform paste or dry pressed sprayed dry powder consisting of
glass particles and a suitable binder material. Alternatively, the
low temperature melting glass may be in the form of cut glass
tubing suitably cut into rings of appropriate dimensions. The use
of a low temperature melting glass having a glass softening
temperature at least about 25 degrees C. (preferably 50 degrees C.)
lower than any glass transition temperature of the transparent
component is particularly advantageous in that the low temperature
melting glass may thereby be fused to the transparent component and
metallic component using relatively low temperatures, for example,
about 650 degrees C. when soda lime silica glass having a glass
transition temperature of about 685 degrees C. is utilized as a
transparent component material, without any appreciable loss of
clarity or significant degradation to the transparent component,
and without any significant degradation to the metallic component.
By the present invention, there may therefore be employed
relatively inexpensive amorphous glass transparent component
materials, such as borosilicates, soda lime silicates, and the
like. Moreover, by the present invention, there may also therefore
be employed metallic component materials of relatively low cost,
for example, nickel-plated CRS and the like.
[0020] Preferably, the material comprising the low temperature
melting glass and the material comprising the transparent component
are chosen to exhibit compatible coefficients of thermal expansion.
Preferably, the two materials exhibit coefficients of thermal
expansion that are within about 4 in/in/.degree. C..times.10.sup.-6
of each other. More preferably, the two materials exhibit the same
or nearly the same coefficients of thermal expansion.
[0021] Moreover, when the metallic component comprises aluminum,
the low temperature melting glass may preferably comprise one or
more aluminum-containing glasses.
[0022] According to one preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, an
inner edge surface 7 on the inner environment side 10 of metallic
ring 1 is beveled. Such beveling forms a trench-like region 14 into
which a sealing compound 9 may be applied. For example, edge
surface 7 of metallic ring 1 may be beveled to about 45 degrees and
0.0015 inches, although these dimensions are not critical. One
advantage to beveling inner surface 7 of metallic ring 1 is that
when the sight glass is placed in a service application in which
the inner environment 10 is of higher pressure than the outer
environment 11, sealing compound 9 is compressed by both the
beveled surface 7 and the exposed portion of the transparent
component outer surface 5. Such compression of the sealing compound
increases the sealing compound's structural integrity to maintain
the hermetic seal. According to this embodiment, hermetic
properties to 10.sup.-9 atmscc/sec may be obtained.
[0023] Referring next to FIG. 2, there is shown a cross-sectional
view of a sight glass made according to certain other features of
the present invention. Beveled inner surface 7 of metallic ring 1
extends beyond an inner surface 8 of transparent component 2. In
this configuration, metallic ring 1 and the transparent component 2
come together without forming a trench-like region for holding the
sealing compound 9. However, the sealing compound 9 is still
subject to at least some compressive forces upon exposure to higher
pressure environment 10.
[0024] In still another embodiment of the present invention, as
shown in FIG. 3, the inner surface 7a of the metallic ring 1 is not
beveled, and transparent component 2 is of reduced width relative
to that of metallic ring 1 such that ring surface 15 extends beyond
surface 8 of transparent component 2. In this embodiment, the
sealing compound 9 is subject to some compressive forces upon
exposure to higher pressure environment 10.
[0025] In still other embodiments, not shown, transparent component
2 may be of increased width relative to that of metallic ring 1,
such that surface 8 of transparent component 2 extends beyond
surface 15 of metallic ring 1. In these embodiments, inner surface
8 of metallic ring 1 may or may not be beveled, and these
embodiments are included within the scope of the present
invention.
[0026] It will be understood that there are other configurations
possible for forming a trench-like region at the interface of
transparent component 2, metallic ring 1, and inner environment 10.
Such configurations, to the extent that they are capable of
compressing and thereby improving the efficacy of sealing compound
9, are included within the scope of the present invention.
[0027] In still another embodiment of the present invention, as
shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the transparent component 2 is not held in
compressive contact with the metallic ring 1, but rather is secured
in place by the sealing compound 9. In this embodiment, it is
preferred that such sealing compound comprise a low temperature
melting glass fused to both the transparent component 2 and the
metallic ring 1. In such an embodiment, the metallic ring 1 may
abut against the transparent component 2, or there may be a slight
gap between the transparent component 2 and the metallic ring 1
that may be at least partially filled by the low temperature
melting glass.
[0028] Optionally, the present invention may employ a curable high
temperature cement to secure and partially seal the transparent
component 2 to the metallic ring 1 (not shown in the figures).
Suitable high temperature cements include, for example,
Ceramabond.RTM. 571 brand (magnesium oxide) high temperature
ceramic adhesive. In these embodiments, the high temperature cement
may be employed in a space between the transparent component and
the metallic ring, and the preferred low temperature melting glass
may then be applied on top of the high temperature cement to seal
off the porosity of the cement.
[0029] When the transparent component is to be held in compressive
contact with the metallic ring, one method for making the present
invention may include the steps of (a) temporarily altering the
relative dimensions of metallic ring 1 and transparent component 2;
(b) placing transparent component 2 within inner space 17 of
metallic ring 1; (c) reversing the altered relative dimensions of
the metallic ring and the transparent component, such that the
metallic ring holds the transparent component securely in
compression; (d) applying a sealing compound 9 to a region 16 along
the exposed interface between metallic ring 1 and transparent
component 2; and (e) conditioning sealing compound 9 as necessary
to assure a hermetic seal of region 16 at the interface exposed to
inner environment 10 between metallic ring 1 and transparent
component 2.
[0030] The relative dimensions of the metallic ring and the
transparent component may most easily be altered by means of
heating either the metallic ring alone or the metallic ring
together with the transparent component. (It will be understood by
those of ordinary skill in the art with the benefit of this
disclosure that the vast majority of materials expand in a
predictable manner when exposed to higher temperatures. It will
also be understood that metallic materials typically expand to a
greater extent than glasses, ceramics, and other non-metallic
materials, i.e. metals typically have a greater coefficient of
thermal expansion than glasses, ceramics, and other
non-metallics.)
[0031] In some embodiments of the present invention, it may be
necessary to provide metallic ring 1 with inner space 17 having
dimensions slightly smaller than the dimensions of transparent
component 2 at ambient conditions. This ensures that the metallic
ring will be capable of holding the transparent component securely
in compressive contact.
[0032] In a typical example, metallic ring 1 may be made from
nickel-plated CRS or stainless steel and have a cylindrical inner
space 17 with a diameter of 18.66 mm at ambient conditions.
Transparent component 2 may be in the form of a cylindrical disc
made from borosilicate and have a diameter of 18.80 mm. Thus, when
metallic ring 1 is heated to 400 degrees Celsius or higher, the
diameter of inner space 17 of the metallic ring will increase to
the extent that unheated transparent component 2 may be inserted
into the inner space of the metallic ring.
[0033] According to one method of the present invention, when only
metallic ring 1 is heated, transparent component 2 (maintained at
ambient temperature) may easily be inserted, manually or otherwise,
into inner space 17 of the metallic ring while the metallic ring is
at elevated temperatures. If metallic ring 1 is heated together
with transparent component 2, it may of course be necessary to use
special, heat-resistant material handling devices (not shown) in
order to place the transparent component inside the inner space of
the metallic ring.
[0034] It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art
with the benefit of this disclosure that when metallic ring 1 and
transparent component 2 are heated together, proper assembly will
likely require that the materials for both be chosen such that the
overall coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE) of the ring material
is greater than that of the transparent component material. In
typical embodiments, metallic ring 1 is a metal (although this is
not necessarily so) and transparent component 2 is a glass or
ceramic (having a relatively low CTE compared to most metals), thus
providing sufficient CTE differences to allow the insertion of
transparent component 2 into metallic ring 1 at elevated
temperatures.
[0035] According to one preferred embodiment, metallic ring 1,
alone or along with transparent component 2, is heated to about 250
to 800 degrees Celsius. This range of temperatures will typically
be adequate to finally produce a securely fitted metallic
ring/transparent component combination. One advantage of the
present invention is that this range of temperatures is low enough
to enable the use of certain metallic materials that could
otherwise not be used as a materials for metallic rings for sight
glasses made via fusion methods. This is because many
previously-excluded metallic ring materials degrade at the higher
temperatures required by fusion methods. The various forms of
degradation are well known in the art, and may include oxidation,
selective component evaporation and simple melting and/or other
undesired change in metallic crystalline structure.
[0036] Once the metallic ring 1/transparent component 2 combination
has cooled to ambient conditions, it will be understood that a
variety of methods known to those of ordinary skill with the
benefit of this disclosure may be used to apply various sealing
compounds, such as low temperature melting glasses, to region along
the exposed interface between metallic ring 1 and transparent
component 2. Moreover, it will be understood that when there is
employed a low temperature melting glass preform paste, the paste
is typically first sintered at relatively low temperatures to
remove its binder, and then heated at higher temperatures to fuse
the remaining melting glass particles.
[0037] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are
other methods and combinations of methods possible for temporarily
altering the relative dimensions of metallic ring 1 and transparent
component 2. For example, the transparent component may be cooled,
while at the same time the metallic ring may be either heated or
kept at ambient temperatures. This and other variations aimed at
temporarily altering the relative dimensions of metallic ring 1 and
the transparent component 2 are intended to be within the scope of
the present invention.
[0038] When the transparent component is not to be held in
compressive contact with the metallic ring, one method for making
the present invention may include the steps of (a) placing the
transparent component 2 within the inner space 17 of the metallic
ring 1; (b) applying a low temperature melting glass sealing
compound 9 around the interface between the transparent component 2
and the metallic ring 1; (c) sintering the low temperature melting
glass sealing compound to at least partially secure the transparent
component 2 to the metallic ring 1; (d) optionally fixing the
metallic ring to other portions of a housing assembly of a sight
glass assembly; and (e) heating the low temperature melting glass
sealing compound to a temperature sufficient to fuse the melting
glass sealing compound, and sufficient to seal the low temperature
melting glass sealing compound to the transparent component 2 and
the metallic ring 1, thereby forming a hermetic seal between the
transparent component 2 and the metallic ring 1.
[0039] Preferably, the low temperature melting glass sealing
compound and the transparent component are chosen such that the
glass softening temperature of the low temperature melting glass
sealing compound is lower than any glass transition temperature of
the transparent component 2. More preferably, the low temperature
melting glass sealing compound and the transparent component are
chosen such that the glass softening temperature of the low
temperature melting glass is at least about 25 degrees C. less than
any glass transition temperature of the transparent component 2.
More preferably still, the low temperature melting glass sealing
compound and the transparent component are chosen such that the
glass softening temperature of the low temperature melting glass is
at least about 50 degrees C. less than any glass transition
temperature of the transparent component 2. Preferably, the step of
fusing the melting glass sealing compound may be performed at a
temperature of from about 500 to 650 degrees C., or more
preferably, at a temperature of from about 575 to 620 degrees C.
Preferably, this fusing step may be performed in a special
atmosphere, that is, a reducing atmosphere.
[0040] Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other
embodiments are possible according to the present invention, and
that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the
specific embodiments disclosed herein.
* * * * *